Union calls for defibrillators for fire-fighters

SIPTU has called for fire-fighters to be issued with defibrillators as part of their standard emergency response equipment.
Brendan McCoy, chair of the National Federation of Part-time Fire Fighters and SIPTU rep, revealed that many smaller fire stations are not equipped with the defibrillators used to resuscitate people suffering from cardiac arrest and heart failure.
And many part-time fire-fighters staffing these stations have not been given basic First Responder training, he said. “The public would be shocked to know the level of emergency training that exists.”
The union representative called on the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to provide defibrillation as part of standard equipment but John Gormley’s department has said it is a matter for local authorities to provide equipment and training.

Most US firms don’t recognise unions

MOST US firms do not recognise trade unions and there is evidence to show that the number of unionised multinationals rejecting unions in new plants and branches is increasing, according to a study by the University of Limerick.
The research was part of large-scale survey which showed that Ireland is one of the “most MNC (multinational corporation) dependent economies in the EU” with one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment in the world.
It has emerged that the corporate policy of new multinationals favours non-unionised plants and existing unionised plants are being moved, rejected in favour of non-union branches, as happened in Abbots and Coca-Cola.
Over 80 per cent of Irish multinationals engage with trade unions in comparison to 59 per cent of all US MNCs who do not engage with unions.
According to researcher Patrick Gunnigle, it is a worrying trend for the Irish trade union movement. “This strong base in existing companies is eroding and they are finding it difficult to hold on to what they have.”

Cinema staff ballot for strike action

SIPTU members at the Eye Cinema in Wellpark, County Galway, have voted in favour of industrial action in a row over terms and conditions of employment and management’s refusal to meet with staff to discuss the issues.
Paul Gavan, regional SIPTU organiser, said: “Staff are not in receipt of any additional remuneration for working on Sundays or after midnight. Some staff have not been paid their entitlement to public holiday pay.”
It is understood that there is a further dispute in the cinema regarding the sacking of a worker who was promoting union solidarity in the workplace. This employee is currently appealing the decision.